If you’re a U.S. citizen and haven’t obtained a passport yet, now would be a very good time to do so, even if you don’t have any immediate travel plans. Five months from now, new regulations proposed by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department will require U.S. citizens returning by air or sea from certain countries to have a passport or other proof of identity and citizenship in order to re-enter the country.
As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initative first proposed last year, citizens of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central and South America will be required to show a passport when entering the U.S., and U.S. citizens traveling to these countries will be required to prove their citizenship by showing approved documents in order to re-enter the country.
On Friday the departments published their proposed regulations, (PDF) outlining the documents which will be accepted: passports, NEXUS Air trusted traveler cards, U.S. military ID, and Merchant Mariner Documents.
The regulations cover only air and sea crossings and will take effect January 8, 2007. Separate regulations covering land border crossings will take effect January 1, 2008, and will be published separately, according to the State Department.
The new land border crossing regulations are expected to negatively impact tourism and trade across the U.S.-Canada border as people will see traveling to Canada as too much of a hassle. A 2005 Canadian Tourism Commission report (PDF) predicted 7.7 million fewer Americans would visit Canada, and 3.5 million fewer Canadians would visit the U.S., in the three years following implementation of the land border restrictions.
I certainly wouldn’t go. I once went to Vancouver, B.C., for a day simply because I happened to be in Seattle at the time. I’m almost certainly not the only one who would make such an impulse trip.
The State Department will accept comments on the proposed air and sea entry regulations through September 25. Unfortunately, they don’t make it very easy to submit comments online. To shortcut things a bit, go to www.regulations.gov, enter in document ID DOS-2006-0241-0001 in the search box, and a link to Add Comments should come up.
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Scott
Aug 13, 2006
I actually just got back from Ontario, Canada today. I have to say that it was already a hassel in get into Canada with the current regulations, and if I can expect it to be even more of a pain, then there is no way that I am going to go back and deal with that again. And seeing how things were in Ontario, I fear that we are headed in the same direction as Canada, in terms of Healthcare, outrageous taxes, expensive gas, etc. Thanks but no thanks, I will not be going to Canada when those new regulations are in place.
Harry O. Stephens
Aug 13, 2006
It doesn’t sound like a very burdensome regulation. A passport is good for, what, 10 years? It’s small and doesn’t weigh much. If you never intend to travel outside the country the regulation doesn’t even effect you. A passport is a good thing to have, anyway. Where do you want to go for your next vacation?
Michael Hampton
Aug 13, 2006
I want to go to a free country, but I can’t find one.
Matt
Aug 13, 2006
I travel regularly to and from Canada and rarely have to show ID. I’ve only been searched once, and that was going IN to Canada.
I do have a passport, but I’ve only brought my drivers license with me to/from Canada because there won’t be a need to show it until 08, and I think then I’ll get a Nexus highway card to avoid any more hassle. I do travel there 10+ times per year to it’d be nice to not have to wonder if I’m going to get drilled about my reason for visiting Montreal or Sherbrooke this time.
J. Bruno
Aug 13, 2006
There’s nowhere to run.
What’s involved with starting a new country? I’ll look into that later.
mr.ed
Aug 13, 2006
…ya mean like the 12 Egyptians that disappeared on their way
to “study” here?
Scott
Aug 13, 2006
Sorry Matt, but I have to call B.S. on you. You CANNOT get in or out of Canada with just a drivers license. It doesn’t prove citizenship in either Country. You have to have either a passport OR your drivers license AND your birth certificate.
Reb
Aug 14, 2006
Traveling to Canada and back has become a hassel,I used to cross in an out with out with out too much trouble,even carried a gun,Canada didn’t give me greif, but the USA side did,go figure,any way until “the people” on both sides get control of their govt back, I won’t be crossing again!
Maggie
Aug 14, 2006
Living in Los Angeles, I drive down to Baja five or six times a year and a drivers license is all I’ve ever needed to cross back to the US. In Matt’s defense, I can’t imagine the crossing from Canada is any stricter.
Scott
Aug 14, 2006
Maggie,
Accorting to the 2005 – 2006 The foreign entry requirements for traveling to and from the U.S. says: “U.S. citizens who travel to a country where a valid U.S. passport is not required will need documentary evidence of their U.S. citizenship and identity. Proof of U.S. citizenship includes an expired U.S. passport or an original birth certificate. A certified copy of the birth certificate is also acceptable, but it must have the registrar’s signature and a raised, impressed, embossed, or multicolored seal.”
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State so you can read it yourself.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#required_document
Todd
Aug 14, 2006
Sorry Scott, you appear to be the ignorant one.
I grew up within a mile of the Michigan border, and I’ve worked for Canada Customs as a border guard (at a BC/Washington crossing). Until recently a DL has always been sufficient on either side of the border for Canadians and Americans visiting each others’ country.
Also, you shouldn’t try to equate this totalitarian socialist passport tactic with any egregious socialist programs in Canada (“…in terms of Healthcare, outrageous taxes, expensive gas, etc.”). The passport scheme is American all the way. Considering that, plus other socialist canards that have come out of Washington lately (Patriot Act, DHS, National ID cards, etc), and the fact that Canada is starting to lean the other way on issues like health care (privatization is a big buzzword up here these days), I’d venture that the U.S. has taken over as North America’s pit of socialist despair.
Good luck with that.
Scott
Aug 14, 2006
Todd,
Apparently you are a selective reader. I never made the claim that you could never get across the boarder with just a drivers license. I said that according to the 2005 – 2006 regulations you have to have documentary evidence of both your citizenship and identity. And being that I just traveled to Canada this last weekend and I had to go to immigration because I forgot to give them my birth certificate, because a drivers license was not enough documentation. And I wasn’t the only one either. I was talking in line to a few other people as well and they were turned back because they didn’t have a passport or a birth certificate. So, unless you can give me documented proof that proves otherwise (as I provided proof to you, Matt, and Maggie) don’t tell me that I don’t know what I am talking about. Especially since I was just there no more than 2 days ago.
Gölök Zoltán Buday
Aug 18, 2006
Eventually you’ll be asked for it state by state travel, a little freedom and liberty
in exchange for their security.
Regards,
Gölök Zoltán Leenderdt Franco Buday
http://www.contact.myegotimes.com/
Diana
Sep 02, 2006
Just found this thread — I am a Canadian with a US green card and
live in the US. My boys were supposed to come down over the labor day
weekend to visit. One son arrived OK. The other
was turned back, after over 4 HOURS of interrogation. He had a Negligent
Driving conviction in the US, and he didn’t try to hide that. Had birth
certificate and driver’s license and a place to go. Doesn’t look
foreign. Speaks good English. Now our family can’t be together over the
weekend. What gives? This never happened before.
Any ideas of he could try again in a day or two? or is it just a lost
cause?
John
Sep 13, 2006
After reading these comments I see why it’s called “Homeland Stupidity”.
Scott
Sep 14, 2006
John,
Apparently you don’t have anything intelligent to add so you resort to insults. Why don’t you go and play on the freeway while us adults talk about real issues.
John
Sep 16, 2006
Hello Scott, I was curious who would bite on my comment. And I think
you’re writing to each other about a single issue, such as it is.
Sep 27, 2006
The news just keeps sneaking across the border - Homeland Stupidity
rasta
Oct 21, 2006
To set the record straight: Proof of USC has always been required (scott stands correct). The fact that BP uses discretion by not selecting to see other docs for admission, is quite alright folks. Although, I guarantee a non-american looking dude will not get through by just flashing his/her DL.
Ricky
Oct 28, 2006
I’m going to Vancouver (Seattle) with my parents in November. I only have a Washington DL and a greencard (my parents have all their docs- passport, citizenship certficate, etc). Last time I went to Vancouver was in 1989. Will I run into any problems? Please Advise.
Martha Alvarez
Nov 16, 2006
I am a U.S. citizen and plan to go to Mexico from California in December
to return in January 20, 2007. We will be driving to and from. Will I
need a passport to re-enter the country?
Eva
Jan 19, 2007
I have a passport since 2003, I travel to Mexico 3 times a year and haven’t use it once yet. We planning on traveling this year March 2007, is anybody in the same situation? should I call the USPS and make sure I’m not in trouble? Need feeback please thank you.
Mar 26, 2007
Washington state accepts REAL ID, gets bonus - Homeland Stupidity
Jun 09, 2007
Passport requirement to re-enter country temporarily suspended - Homeland Stupidity
Jul 01, 2007
Land crossing passport requirement delayed - Homeland Stupidity